2 Arrested On Fentanyl Trafficking Charges In Methuen

METHUEN, MA — Two men were arrested last week on fentanyl trafficking charges in the Merrimack Valley, specifically, Methuen, Massachusetts.

Derek Ayotte, 31, of Laconia and Jose Rafael Villar, 31, of Lawrence, MA, were accused of possessing between 100 and 200 grams of fentanyl in Methuen on Oct. 6. Villar was also charged with being a fugitive from justice.

Police in Methuen were surveilling possible drug transactions when officers accused Villar of walking in the area of Lowell Street near Route 110. Police, Chief Scott McNamara of the Methuen Police Department, said, accused him of walking up to the driver of a bronze Subaru Legacy and interacting with him.

“Methuen police subsequently observed that the Legacy had a broken taillight and stopped the vehicle,” he said. “During the stop, officers discovered that the driver of the vehicle, identified as Ayotte, was in possession of what appeared to be a white powdery substance, believed to be fentanyl.”

Ayotte was arrested, and then, police arrested Villar.

Villar was accused of having a false name and a fake identification during processing. He also had a warrant out of Lawrence MA District Court.

Ayotte and Villar were arraigned in Essex County District Court and held on $25,000 bail.

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